Favorite Posts

Chris presents The Joy of Owning Nothing posted at financial reflections, saying, “I take a lesson from the life of a multimillionaire who says “no” to most any purchase.”

The Shark Investor presents How To Live The Life Of Your Dreams (Visual Guide) posted at The Shark Investor

savingadvice presents I Want to be a Frugalista! posted at SavingAdvice.com Blog

MoneyNing presents 5 Surefire Ways to Stop Thinking Your Paycheck is Never Enough posted at Money Ning

Joanne presents 21 Ways To Create An Emergency Fund posted at Simply Saving.

Lazy Man and Money presents How to Stock a Bar posted at Lazy Man and Money.

J. Savings presents Would you take a 10% pay cut if it meant saving an employee? posted at Budgets are Sexy.

Cheap and Free Stuff

Carma presents How to Find Deals on the Web posted at Standard Deviations.

Kathy Hester (GeekyPoet) presents Finding Organic Coupons « Geek, Poet, Housewife Wannabe posted at Geek, Poet, Housewife Wannabe.

Adam Hagerman presents Frugal Wedding Tip: Save the Date Cards posted at Your Money Relationship.

Andrew Schultz presents Skype vs. Verizon – Saved me $631.70! posted at Andrew-Schultz.com

Myscha Theriault presents Meat Money: Grocery Saving Tips for Carnivores | Wise Bread posted at Wise Bread

Jim presents Free College Money: The FAFSA on Blueprint for Financial Prosperity posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Dan at Everydayfinance presents How I Saved $250/Year for Life with Comcast posted at Everyday Finance

ChristianPF presents Free Franklin Planner templates posted at Money in the Bible | Christian Personal Finance Blog

Andy presents Five Things You Should Get for Free posted at Tight Fisted Miser.

Kelly from Almost Frugal presents Frugal Gifts For New Parents and New Babies posted at Almost Frugal.

Great Tips and Advice

Shaun Kavanagh presents Use Your Credit Card for Everything You Can! posted at Kavmerica.com.

FIRE Getters presents 12 Tips To Lower Your Heating Bill posted at FIRE Finance.

juicefairy presents New Year, Better Credit Score: Post 1 posted at Juicefairy.

Cooupon Artist presents 15 Minutes a Day Toward a More Frugal Life | artofthecoupon.com posted at artofthecoupon.com.

GrrlScientist presents Survival Skills 101: Frugal Living posted at Living the Scientific Life

Morrison presents Only 1 New Years’ Resolution. posted at ALL DOORS CONSIDERED..

FMF presents Reminder: Pay Attention to Scanners posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Simple way to save money — pay attention!”

Madison presents 16 Ways to Do It Yourself posted at My Dollar Plan.

Dave presents Beater Bucks – 7 Tips To Keep Your Car Running posted at Cheapo Groovo.

RC presents Creating a Household Budget and Why it is Important posted at Think Your Way to Wealth.

Rob presents Negotiating Car Purchases posted at Negotiation Training Info

Doctor S presents The World Learns to Live Frugal in 2009 posted at Finance Your Life

Nicki presents The Timeless Art Of Sewing posted at Domestic Cents, saying, “Thank you!”

Ray K presents Save Money By Always Being In A Contract posted at JustSaver.com

Super Saver presents Stretching our Dining Out Dollars posted at My Wealth Builder

Savings Toolbox presents Reducing What You Waste Will Save Some Cash posted at Savings Toolbox.

TH in SoC presents Digital Television and Frugal Entertainment posted at The Well Run Dry

Silicon Valley Blogger presents 21 Deal Sites and Online Tools To Help You Save Money posted at The Digerati Life

Jill presents Top Coupon Tips | posted at Jill.

The Smarter Wallet presents Smart and Frugal Tips To Shop For Clothes Online posted at The Smarter Wallet

Resolutions and Budgeting

Roshawn Watson presents 3 Financial Decisions for a Great 2009 posted at Watson Inc

Bryce presents Number One New Year’s Resolution posted at Save and Conquer

Michael. presents Living on a Budget: Reasons and Motivations posted at Michael Emilio.

Todd presents Budgeting Basics posted at HarvestingDollars

Other Neat Stuff

TStrump presents 6 Ways to Adopt the Freegan Lifestyle | The Strump posted at The Strump – Financial Blog,

Praveen presents My Simple Trading System: Joy of the Down Sell posted at My Simple Trading System.

Condo Blues presents Organize Your Life with Six Pack Containers! posted at Condo Blues

Aryn presents Top Ten Frugal Winter Foods posted at Sound Money Matters.

Chuck Russell presents Hyundai Assurance Program; Buy Back Your Car posted at Car Buying Tips To Save You Money.

HowToMe presents How To Bake Rusks posted at HowToMe, saying, “Rusks, a double-baked sweet biscuit, are usually dipped in one’s morning coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate before they are eaten, but they can also be enjoyed as they are for a snack. Reportedly, rusks can also be helpful to a teething child.”

vh presents Snookered! posted at Funny about Money.

Destroy Debt presents Debt Got You Down? Turn That Frown Around posted at Debbie’s Debt Advice.

Scott Crawford presents DebtGoal » Blog Archive » New Year Debt Resolution Step 6: Simplify For Success posted at DebtGoal

Stephanie presents Guilty as Charged posted at Stop the Ride!.

nemesis presents How to save more money posted at Wealth Gears.

Livingalmostlarge presents Winter is good for the pocketbook posted at LivingAlmostLarge.

Paula Wethington presents Kitchen prep you can do on the weekends posted at Monroe on a Budget.

Miss M presents Frugal Traditional Skills posted at M is for Money.

Shadox presents Where Did Our Money Go in 2008? posted at Money and Such, saying, “Looking back at 2008 and how our family of 5 spent its cash.”

Ms. Smarty Pants presents How I Plan to Save Money on Holiday Gifts with My Discover Card posted at Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

SJ presents Alternative Fuels – Are They Really The Boon Of The Future? posted at Save Money On Gas

Zantor presents How to Take Control of Your Finances posted at Open Road Open Mind.

The Investor presents Stanford researchers prove you can spend 20% less on gifts for the same result posted at Monevator.com

The Happy Rock presents Out with the Old, In with the New – Switching Phone Companies posted at The Happy Rock

Megan presents Unusual food sales? posted at Counting My Pennies.

nickel@fivecentnickel.com presents Free Antibiotics (and Prenatal Vitamins!) posted at Money Tipper.

nickel presents Books are a Bargain posted at fivecentnickel.com.

Lisa Spinelli presents Successful Free Swap Sites for Books, DVDs, and CDs posted at Greener Pastures: Personal Finance

PatrickCML presents Free Disney Tickets for Military Members and Retirees posted at Military Finance Network

PatrickCML presents Introducing Money Saving Deals posted at Cash Money Life,

kathryn presents Basic Ideas for Balancing a Budget posted at Out of Debt Christian

Elizabeth Goldstein (Modern Gal) presents Surprising Frugal Advice: Stop Being so Obedient posted at Modern Gal

Dana J. presents Frugal Weight Loss Tips posted at Not Made Of Money.

Dana J. presents Recession Survival: Clipping Coupons and Shopping The Sales posted at The Family Wallet.

Curt presents Why Wages Don’t Fall During a Recession posted at PennyJobs.com.

Pamela Grundy presents Post Cereal Coupons; Stock up on Milk, NOW! posted at Personal Finance Analyst.

Mr. ToughMoneyLove presents Save on Investment Expenses and Losses: Fire Your Financial Planner posted at Tough Money Love » Hard Truth and Tough Love for Money Problems and Personal Finance

David presents Decision Making 101: Step One The Way We Make Decisions posted at Personal Finance Ology

Penelope Pince presents Save Money and Get More Exercise With a Mini Home Gym posted at Pecuniarities

Heather Levin presents How To Have A Green Valentine?s Day posted at The Greenest Dollar

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Festival of Frugality using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Just a quick post to highlight some of the more interesting posts I’ve come across recently, and an update about goings-on here at CW.

Blog Carnivals:

I participated in the following carnivals last week.

• Festival of Frugality 11/4 Election Day Edition
• Carnival of Financial Goals–Election Day 2008 Edition
• 83rd Carnival of Money Stories – Election Day Edition!
• Carnival of Personal Finance No. 177

Blog Spotlight:

The Blog Spotlight is where I single out the best blog entry I’ve come across each week, along with a short description of why I liked it. This week is a post from Plonkee Money;

A Confession and Sorting Myself Out

Plonkee finds it’s hard to keep up sometimes, especially when it’s ‘expected’ of you. Personal finance bloggers get tired of trying to be perfect with their finances, just like everyone else. Plonkee posts a hard exposé on herself on the shortcomings in her own finances.

Blogroll:

Stay Well! And have a nice weekend!

I’ve missed a few of these Saturday roundups (in more meanings than one) and decided to try to get back to my roots. I’m trying to concentrate on posting more often, and I’ll be hosting the Carnival of Financial Goals this coming week, so stop by and see.

I’m also getting ready for the summer vacation. Circumstances have forced us to go to Disney this year (even though we had intended to scale back) and I’ve just bitten the bullet, finance-wise, and decided to just go with the flow. 

From Credit Withdrawal (Since the last roundup)

• Aug 01: Pay Off Your Bills with Coloring Books and Crayons 

• July 30: Americans Drive 40 Billion Miles LESS than Last Year. What a Disaster! 
• July 28: Paying Off Debt – Science vs. Psychology, and the Seventh-Inning Slump 
• July 23: The Capital One Debit MasterCard, Now You Don’t Even NEED a Bank Account with Them 
• July 17: Confidence in Banks Shaken, as the FDIC Takes Over IndyMac. But Why? 
• July 15: Watch that First Step, It’s a Doozy – Starting Down the Path to Financial Control 
• July 10: Just Giving it Away – Why it’s Good to Be Rich 
• July 08: Where Did all the Customers Go? 
• July 04: Happy 4th of July 
• July 02: IRS Increases Mileage Rates through Dec. 31, 2008 

• June 29: Why Your Boss Won’t Let You Telecommute 
• June 19: Ask the Readers – Does the Economy Influence Your Vote? 
• June 17: Using a 0% Credit Card to Consolidate Debt

From My Reader

Being Frugal – Your Financial Life on One Page (FLOP)    A touch older article, but I do this myself and it’s a great tactic for managing your bills/debt

Blueprint for Financial Prosperity – Should You Look For A New Job?    I’ve always believed that every job is a stepping-stone to a better job. Even if you’re happy where you’re at, it doesn’t hurt to keep an ear or eye out for the ‘next-big-thing’.

Brip Blap – Big Picture, Little Picture    I’m definitely a big-picture person. I can handle the minutiae of the details, but it’s not fun.

Cash Money Life – Online Bill Pay – Cheaper, Faster, Greener, More Secure    I’ve been doing on-line for years. Can’t even IMAGINE going back to paper and check billing. Especially with $.42 for each letter nowadays.

DebtFREE Revolution – Economic Reality and Delivering Pizzas    I guess Dave Ramsey’s advice to ‘get a pizza delivery route to get out of debt’ is kind of in danger nowadays. Gas prices hit home for Ana.

Debt Kid – The Virtue of Thrift – Will Frugal Stay Hip When The Boom Is Back?    At this point, I’d just like the opportunity to find out. Bring back the Boom, and we’ll see if people stay frugal.

Gather Little By Little – 10 least expensive to own vehicles – not one is hybrid    I’ve always been skeptical about the hybrid craze. I know that it’s environmentally friendlier, but until it gets economically friendlier, it won’t pick up long-term, as more articles like this one point out the true costs and savings.

Green Panda Treehouse – The Best Job Hunt Post: Top 40 Links From The Web    Also, slightly older, but a GREAT article (notwithstanding, GP referenced one of my articles in it).

I’ve Paid for this Twice – Why Debt Stinks: It Can Take a Lot Longer to Get Out Than It Did To Get In    What can I say. I’m living this article!

Millionaire Money Habits – When in Doubt, Do the Opposite    If everyone acted the same, no one would make any real money. It’s the ones that think differently, and act differently that take the chances and make the changes.

Money Blue Book – How To Kill Roaches And Get Rid Of A Home Cockroach Infestation    WONDERFUL article and advice on the Great Cockroach War. That bit about the Las Vegas roach jar is interesting. I guess you’ve never seen ‘Joe’s Apartment’ then?!??

Moolanomy – Personal Finance Risks And Risk Management, Part 1    I’ve always loved Pinyo’s straightforward analyses of finances. I’m looking forward to part 2 of this series.

Mrs Micah – What Keeps You From Paying Bills On-Time?    I always pay my bills on time, but it wasn’t always that way. Automatic payments are the way to go though.

My Dollar Plan – How to Make Early Roth IRA Withdrawals    Taking IRA withdrawals is risky, if you don’t do it right. This article shows you the right way to do it if you absolutely have to.

My Two Supercharged Life – A Dozen Tips On How To Live A Deeper And More Meaningful Life    I like #2 in particular. Wish more people would take responsibility, and get out of the ‘victim’ mindset.

My Two Dollars – Paying Off Debt And Saving Money Can Be Done At The Same Time.    This one made me laugh. I can’t do the weekly payments, but I do bi-monthly payments, since I get paid that way. The money doesn’t even get cold before it’s back out the door helping to eliminate that little bit more of interest debt.

Plonkee Money – knowledge is power? what do you do if you’re underpaid    I’ve always thought you’re worth as much as someone is willing to pay you. If someone else is getting paid more, they might have skills you don’t, or better negotiation skills. Either way, if you’re not happy, it’s time to do something.

Prime Time Money – Pay Off Credit Cards With Home Equity: Secured and Unsecured Debt    Short answer; NO. Switching to secured from unsecured doesn’t do anything other than give your lender a bigger stick to threaten you with.

Quest for Four Pillars – The Great Powdered Milk Experiment    Bags?!?? Milk in bags? Canadians are just strange.

Remodeling This Life – Why Be Frugal?    I’ve got to the point that I can buy pretty much whatever I want, if I really wanted to. The funny thing is I don’t want to buy very much anymore. I’m frugal by default I guess.

Rocket Finance – Global Warming Update    I just love reading Rocket’s stuff, just because it’s 180 degrees from what I’d normally write. Global warming hasn’t been proven, but by the time we are able to prove it, it might be too late to do anything about it. I’m thinking I’d rather err on the side of survival on this one.

Single Guy and Money – I Bought An IPhone and I LOVE IT!!!    Welcome to the Society, SGM. I’ll send you your intro pack and start teaching you the secret handshake next week.

The Dough Roller – SEO Copywriting–How to Get Your Article to the Top of Google    Gotta read, gotta read, GOTTA READ THIS!

The Wisdom Journal – 12 Ways to Get Paid What You’re Worth    Good article, gotta use some of these tricks next time I change jobs.

]]> http://www.creditwithdrawal.com/wordpress/2008/08/02/saturday-roundup-aug-2nd-2008-more-vacation-time/feed/ 2 http://www.creditwithdrawal.com/wordpress/2008/06/14/saturday-roundup-june-14th-2008-vacation-time/ http://www.creditwithdrawal.com/wordpress/2008/06/14/saturday-roundup-june-14th-2008-vacation-time/#comments Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:34:47 +0000 Randall http://www.creditwithdrawal.com/2008/06/14/saturday-roundup-june-14th-2008-vacation-time/ Welcome to the Saturday Roundup of Credit Withdrawal posts and other interesting posts around the blogosphere.

I’ll be out next week at Scout camp. With the sad news about the Scouts that were killed in Iowa (not that far from me) it’s a bittersweet reminder as we get ready to go. I’ve got some articles lined up, and a guest blogger post as well, so there should be interesting things to read while I’m away. Just remember that comments and such may be held while I’m disconnected.

Also got a chance to see Kung Fu Panda last weekend. Very good movie. I’m a big Jack Black fan, and this was a cute movie. Maybe not an Incredibles or Toy Story, but much better than Happily N’ever After.

From Credit Withdrawal

• June 13: Congratulations to One of Our Readers (1)
• June 10: Where’s My Money?!?? The Government Holding up the Economic Stimulus Checks (2)
• June 06: Ask the Reader – What’s Your Best Grocery Cost-Saving Tip? (6)
• June 05: Giving the Gift of Health… Insurance (2)
• June 04: The Death-Knell of the Hummer (6)
• June 02: Economic Stimulus Not as Stimulating as Hoped (6)

It’s finally starting to FEEL like spring to me. Plans for home improvements are popping into my head. The lawn needs taming more than once per week (I knew having boys was a good idea), and the blog is starting to get some of the attention it’s been missing over the last few weeks. Work is still sucking an inordinate amount of time, but I’m getting into a ‘groove’ that’s allowing me to write more. 

From Credit Withdrawal this week

• May 30th: Ask the Reader – What are Your Vacation Plans this Year? (2)
• May 29th: HSBC Does a Pre-Emptive Strike on My Wife (4)
• May 28th: Vacationing This Summer? Don’t Forget Vacation Insurance! (0)
• May 27th: The Roth IRA as Emergency Fund (4)

Blog Spotlight:

The Blog Spotlight is where I single out the best blog entry I’ve come across each week, along with a short description of why I liked it.

DebtFREE Revolution – Hubby, Money, and Investing

Money is as difficult a subject for families as they come. Religion, politics, and finances cause more disruption in a marriage than any other set of differences. I feel for Ana and it sounds like she’s got a big task ahead of her, smoothing things out, and getting everyone on the same page.

From My Reader

Being Frugal – Teeny Credit Cards and Big Problems – Are Credit Cards for Tweens and Teens a Good Idea?    Wow, is there a way to say NO times infinity? I kind of look at it like teen smoking. I know it’s bad, and I’ll discourage/forbid it while I can, but at some point I don’t get a choice whether they do or don’t. Until then though,…

Blueprint for Financial Prosperity – Banking, Credit Card Debt & The Paradox of Choice    I love paradoxes. No, actually I hade paradoxes. No, wait,..

Brip Blap – invest in what you know    I agree totally with this advice, but I’d add a kicker; Get to Know More!

Cash Money Life – How to Improve Your Credit Score    I’d add one more to the list. Don’t let your credit card company nuke your available credit Loved the video!

Gather Little By Little – Consumer spending on pets is at record levels    Where do you think they get the .5 kids in the ‘normal’ 2.5 kids American family from?

I’ve Paid for this Twice – Don’t Let the Reality of Future Debt Discourage Present Progress    Throw off thos bonds of debt slavery!

Millionaire Money Habits – Rural Real Estate – Know Your Risks    You know what they say is the three keys to successful real estate investment; Location, location and location.

Money Blue Book – How Long Does A Bankruptcy Filing Stay On Your Credit Report?    Of course, if it were up to the lenders, they’d just bring back the Debtors Prison.

Moolanomy – Investing, Taking Risks, and A Game Of Darts    I agree that it depends on the person. Taking a risk for one BIG payoff is more appealing to some than taking a lesser risk for a lower payout

Mrs Micah – Why I Don’t Think I Would Have Done As Well If I Had To Work My Way Through College    I definitely envy you. No one in my family had gone to college, so things like student loans were unknown to me. Even when I got a partial scholarship to Princeton, I turned it down because I didn’t have the remaining money. Went into the army instead (for the college fund). Oh well, if I’d known then what I know now,…

My Dollar Plan – Frugal Tips I Can’t (or Won’t) Do    Agree, your time and peace of mind are valuable too. Some things you just live with.

My Two Supercharged Life – Are You Really Free Or Are You A Slave?    I’m a slave to the wife, that about covers all the rest too.

My Two Dollars – Let The Fun Begin – Credit Crisis Is Far From Over; Will Go Into 2009.    Yeah, that and mortgage foreclosures. It’s like a slow-motion car wreck, you wan’t to look away, but you can’t.

Plonkee Money – what do you think of bankruptcy?    I had a friend who declared bankruptcy, and shortly thereafter got TONS of credit card offers. The difference in America is you can’t re-file for bankruptcy for 7 years. Creditors know they can harass you for that long w/o risking another bankruptcy.

Prime Time Money – Where Is Our Economic Stimulus Payment Direct Deposit?    Eh, got mine on the last day it was due.

Quest for Four Pillars – How To Become an Expert in Anything    I love these ideas about how to be an expert. Realize that for most college classes, if you put ALL the actual class time together for one class, it’s only about 40 hrs (Spread over a semester).

Remodeling This Life – Do Your Kids A Favor By Saying No    By this standard, I’m the GREATEST father in the world!

Rocket Finance – National Oil    Oooh, Rocket, this one’s getting a response article! Just wait!

Single Guy and Money – Reducing Your Health Insurance Costs    Good pointers, but beware the paying cash one

The Dough Roller – What is Phishing–A Real Life Example    While this one was easy to spot, (because you don’t have an account there) others are getting extrememly difficult to detect. Beware when ANYONE asks you to log into ANYTHING via an e-mail link.

The Wisdom Journal – 26 Ways To Make Extra Money While Keeping Your Day Job    Nice tips, now if I only had some EXTRA time after work,..